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- Three Billion Users and a New Dilemma for Social Media’s Hottest Platform
Three Billion Users and a New Dilemma for Social Media’s Hottest Platform
Three billion monthly users. That’s the kind of milestone that makes even the biggest platforms stop and reassess. The growth is electrifying—and it could send returns soaring.
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Asset Management
BlackRock Just Gave Stablecoins a Suit and Tie
BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) is making stablecoins look less like a side hustle and more like financial plumbing.
Ripple’s RLUSD is now tied into Securitize, the BlackRock-backed tokenization platform.
That means you can move from money market fund shares to a dollar-pegged token instantly, no waiting for wires, no “banking hours” nonsense.
From Basement Hobby to Boardroom Tool
This is not the meme coin circus. It’s the same tech, just dressed up for Wall Street.
And when BlackRock puts its stamp on something, suddenly you see it differently.
If you’re rolling your eyes at crypto, this is the point where you start paying attention. It’s not about hype anymore; it’s about infrastructure.
The Rails Are the Real Prize
Forget which token wins. The real play is the track it runs on. BlackRock is building rails that could carry trillions, and you don’t want to miss that train.
When money can move anytime, anywhere, you’ll wonder why you ever tolerated a
three-day settlement.
Why It Matters for You
If you’re holding BLK, this is a story about sticky new revenue streams. If you’re still on the sidelines, it’s proof that crypto just stopped being the rebel kid in a hoodie.
Final thought? Stablecoins just graduated from the kids’ table to the main dining hall, and BlackRock is the one pulling out the chair.
BLK currently trades at $1,134.00 and pays a dividend of $20.84 per share, a yield of 1.84%.
Smart Energy
The “Boring Utility” That’s Out-Innovating Tech Giants
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) isn’t usually the name you’d expect to throw sparks, but this pilot with Ford Pro flipped the script.
Over the course of six months, they tested 200 F-150 Lightnings and 150 chargers, and the results were remarkable: charging costs decreased by nearly one-third, peak demand dropped by more than a megawatt, and every truck remained fully charged.
The EV Angle Nobody Saw Coming
This wasn’t just about plugging in trucks cheaply. By shifting a quarter of all charging to off-peak hours, Southern proved fleets can save money while stabilizing the grid.
That’s the kind of win regulators drool over and the type of story Wall Street pays attention to.
For you, it’s proof that a utility stock can be more than steady dividends. Southern is showing how to profit from electrification without burning cash chasing hype.
Who Knew a Power Company Could Hustle?
Utilities usually play it safe, but Southern used this pilot to show they can run smarter, not just bigger.
Efficiency gains like this can strengthen rate cases, widen margins, and carve out long-term upside in the EV boom.
If you’ve been sleeping on utility stocks, this one’s a reminder that they don’t all move slowly.
Sometimes the biggest voltage comes from the company nobody thought could innovate.
SO currently trades at $93.00 and pays a dividend of $2.96 per share, a yield of 3.17%.
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Logistics
Tariffs Bite, but FedEx Bites Back
FedEx (NYSE: FDX) just told the Street that tariffs and trade drama will slice about $1 billion off its operating profit this year.
That kind of hit could make most companies curl up, but FedEx still turned around and reinstated guidance, calling for 4% to 6% revenue growth.
You can almost hear the subtext: “Yes, it hurts, but we’re still moving packages and still moving forward.”
The Parcel Giant That Refuses to Fold
The heaviest drag is fewer China-to-U.S. shipments, once a money-printing route, and about $300 million in higher customs costs.
Most CEOs would throw their hands up, but FedEx rolled out a fresh earnings outlook of $17.20 to $19 a share for fiscal 2026.
That midpoint sits just shy of analyst calls, but it gives you clarity — and clarity is worth gold when markets are jumpy.
Guidance as a Flex
The reinstated forecast is less about numbers and more about confidence. FedEx is basically saying, “We know the road is rough, but we’ve mapped the route.”
For you, that means the company isn’t letting trade chaos define the whole year.
Instead, it’s showing discipline, visibility, and enough grit to reassure investors that the engine still works.
FDX currently trades at $233 and pays a dividend of $5.80 per share, a yield of 2.49%.
Dividend Stocks Worth Watching
Meta (NYSE: META) - owned content-sharing app Instagram has smashed through another social media record, hitting a staggering three billion active monthly users.
The growth has been sparked by an increase in short-form video and discovery recommendations – suggested content shared by accounts the user doesn’t already follow.
The growth of Instagram could be a double-edged sword for Meta. On the one hand, the massive increase in numbers will undoubtedly lead to an uptick in ad revenue.
On the other hand, Instagram is now outshining Facebook, with Mark Zuckerberg facing the problem of making the original network cool again.
In addition to capturing more ad revenue, the growth in users has sparked another interesting twist, with the app planning to give users more control over their algorithm, allowing them to define what they see more of.
If successful, this could be a game-changer for the app. Watch this space.
META currently pays a 52-cent dividend, yielding 0.28%.
Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) has confirmed a $14 million investment in Financial Risk Group, LLC (FRG), a risk management firm.
The investment takes the form of a first lien, senior secured term debt, and a direct equity investment, and will help facilitate the recapitalization of Financial Risk Group.
The addition of FRG further diversifies Main Street's investment portfolio, given FRG’s activities in risk management advisory services.
The tech-led firm provides risk analysis with real-time insights, as its platforms process over $4.2 trillion in assets every month.
MAIN currently pays a 30-cent dividend with an attractive yield of 4.82%.
Honda Motor Company (HMC) has announced that it will cease manufacturing of its Acura ZDX electric vehicle.
Produced by General Motors (NYSE: GM) in Tennessee, the Acura ZDX has fallen victim to a wider decline in demand for EV motoring.
While the ZDX will come to the end of its production lifecycle, Honda will still maintain ties with GM as assembly of the Prologue EV is set to continue in Mexico.
HMC pays a semiannual dividend of 71 cents, with a yield of 4.25%.
Dividend Increases
MAA has raised its dividend payment to $1.52 per share, an increase of 42.59%. Its new yield is 4.3%.
MRP has increased its dividend payment to 73 cents, a rise of 5.80%. Its new yield is 8.57%.
BIB has increased its dividend to 18 cents per share, a 5.84% rise. Its new yield is 1.24%.
Dividend Decreases
BBD has slashed its dividend payment to 0.3 cents, a reduction of 91.01%. Its new yield is 1.29%.
MSD has reduced its dividend to 17 cents per share, a decline of 10.53%. Its new yield is 8.88%.
PSL has cut its dividend payment to 20 cents, a drop of 26.88%. Its new yield is 0.74%.
Make Chaos Pay (Sponsored)
Analysts are split on whether President Trump’s trade policies will spark a market meltdown or fuel long‑term strength.
Wall Street’s caught in a tug‑of‑war, driving volatility to new highs.
The IMF warns that rising tariffs will boost inflation without causing a recession, keeping investors on edge.
When the tariff pause sent stocks surging, savvy options traders banked big, proof that chaos can equal opportunity.
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Upcoming Dividend Payers
QCOM ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $0.89 payment is 09/25/25.
LMT ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $3.30 payment is 09/26/25.
GLPI ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $0.78 payment is 09/26/25.
Everything Else
Bank of America has named its new EMEA mergers and acquisitions team leaders as it reshuffles its management team and targets enhanced performance.
Motorists with subprime credit could still drive off the showroom floor in Ford’s flagship F-150 pickup truck as the company rolls out special financing for consumers with less-than-perfect credit ratings.
Eli Lilly will invest approximately $6.5 billion to construct a new manufacturing facility in Texas. The cutting-edge, multi-billion-dollar facility will be used to make the firm’s weight loss pill, Orforglipron.
Disney says it will increase prices for its Disney+ streaming service for a fourth consecutive year, effective October 21. Most subscribers will pay an additional $2 - $3 per month to access the platform.
That’s all for today’s edition of the Dividend Brief.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any feedback or dividend stocks you want me to take a look at, just reply to this email!
—Noah Zelvis
DividendBrief.com